History

G4S has a heritage of more than 100 years...

HISTORY

1901–1950: Our foundation in Denmark, our national growth, our first moves into overseas territories and the emergence of Securitas International…
1901
Marius Hogrefe starts the guarding company Kjøbenhavn Frederiksberg Nattevagt in Denmark.
1906
Sophus Falck establishes Redningskorpset, an independent fire and rescue service.
1908
Redningskorpset establishes the first automobile ambulance in Scandinavia.
1930
Falck becomes a nationwide operator in Denmark.
1934
The Philip-Sørensen family establishes Securitas AB in Sweden.
1935
Night Watch Services (later Night Guards) starts up with four guards on bicycles.
1950
The Philip-Sørensen family businesses are consolidated as Securitas International.
1951–1989: The emergence of Securicor and Group 4, changes in the role of the Philip-Sørensen family, and a partnership with British Telecom…
1951
Night Guards becomes Securicor.
1960
Securicor become a nationwide operator in the UK and expands into Africa and Asia.
1963
Falck buys Zonen Redningskorps, an independent fire and rescue service in Denmark.
1965
Securicor launches the Data Transit Service, a fleet of vans moving customers’ confidential payroll and banking details from central locations to regional offices.
Jørgen Philip-Sørensen is appointed managing director of his family’s UK businesses.
1968
The Philip-Sørensen group of companies becomes Group 4 (Total Security).
1971
Securicor Group Limited and Security Services Limited are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
1981
Jørgen Philip-Sørensen takes responsibility for Group 4’s European activities, while his brother Sven Philip-Sørensen takes over Securitas AB in Sweden.
Securicor Chairman Peter Smith is awarded the OBE for services to the security industry.
Securicor and British Telecommunications plc form the Cellnet cellular network.
1988
Falck is acquired by Baltica, a Danish insurance company; Lars Nørby Johansen is appointed Managing Director.
1990–1999: Falck becomes a listed company, Securicor becomes a plc and operations spread across Europe – and beyond…
1990
Group 4 provides security services to government and private organisations in Hungary.
Securicor establishes its Custodial Services operations.
1991
Baltica sells 55% of its shares in Falck.
Group 4 acquires businesses in Belgium and Turkey.
Group 4 begins managing the first privatised prison in the UK, at Wolds in Humberside.
1993
Falck acquires the security business of ISS Securitas, to become Falck Securitas.
Group 4 acquires businesses in Austria and Canada.
Securicor Custodial Services wins the contract to run the London Metropolitan Court Escort and Custody services.
1994
Group 4 establishes operations in the United Arab Emirates and the Ukraine.
All activities in Spain are sold to Securitas AB.
1995
Falck is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
1996
Group 4 begins a joint venture with British Gas to provide meter-reading services in the UK, and establishes AccuRead.
Falck acquires businesses in Sweden and Norway.
Securicor becomes a single plc.
1997
Securicor enters the US corrections market.
Securicor acquires the first Private Finance Initiative prison in the UK.
1998
Securicor forms a joint venture with Deutsche Post, the German post office.
Falck acquires businesses in Germany, Poland and Estonia.
Group 4 starts activities in Bangladesh.
1999
Falck acquires security businesses in the Netherlands and Lithuania.
Securicor sells its stake in Cellnet to British Telecommunications plc.

2000-2005: Continued mergers and acquisitions, Group 4 Falck is established and then Group 4 Securicor, the world’s second largest security provider...
Group 4 and Falck merge to become Group 4 Falck.
Group 4 Falck acquires security businesses in Germany, Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary.
Securicor acquires businesses in Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the US.
2001
Group 4 Falck acquires businesses in France and South Africa.
Establishment of G4S Egypt .

2002
Group 4 Falck enters the US security market by acquiring The Wackenhut Corporation, the second largest security services company in the US.
Nick Buckles becomes Chief Executive of Securicor.
2003
Securicor sells its distribution business to Deutsche Post.
Group 4 Falck sells its shares in Wackenhut Correction Corporation and Wackenhut Resources Inc.
2004
Group 4 Falck’s security business merges with Securicor to create Group 4 Securicor in July 2004, and begins trading on the London Stock Exchange.
Group 4 Technology acquires a Danish intruder alarm business.
Group 4 Securicor’s UK Justice Services business wins three electronic monitoring contracts in England and Wales.
Group 4 Falck sells Global Solutions and lists its safety business (Falck A/S) on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
2005
Securicor Canada acquires Universal ATM Services.
Group 4 Securicor is officially launched in May 2005.
Lars Nørby Johansen is succeeded as Chief Executive by Nick Buckles.
2006–present: G4S becomes a global identity, makes yet more acquisitions and even sets its sights on Olympic gold…
2006
The G4S brand identity is rolled out worldwide.
Wackenhut Services, Inc. wins a key fire protection and emergency response contract with NASA.
G4S wins Human Resources Excellence award for “Best Executive Development Programme”.
G4S acquires a 50% share in a guarding, alarms and cash services business in Mozambique.
Alf Duch-Pedersen succeeds Jorgen Philip-Sorensen, becoming Non Executive Chairman.
G4S announces sponsorship of Skandia Team GBR, backing Britain’s Olympic sailing bid in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
2007
G4S enters the FTSE 100 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange.
G4S makes acquisitions in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Mozambique.
G4S begins providing electronic monitoring equipment and services in New Zealand.
G4S 4teen, an innovative global sports development programme, is launched.
2008
G4S acquires GSL, a leading provider of critical primary and support services and outsourced justice services.
G4S is selected as a support contractor for the US Department of Energy.
G4S acquires Armorgroup, a leading provider of defensive and protective services to national governments and international peace and security agencies.
G4S acquires RONCO Consulting Corporation, one of the world's premier humanitarian and commercial mine action, ordinance disposal and security companies.
A landmark agreement reached with UNI, the global union federation, on an Ethical Employment Partnership, driving improvements in employment standards across the security industry.
2009
G4S aquires Secura Monde International Limited and Shiremoor International Engineering Limited, together, the UK’s leading specialist banknote and high security technical and commercial advisory companies.
G4S acquires All Star International, one of the premier facilities management and base operations support companies providing services to the US Government.
G4S acquires Adesta, US-based provider of integrated security systems and communication systems.
G4S acquires Hill & Associates Consultants Limited, Asia’s leading provider of specialist risk mitigation consulting services.